Which nursing behavior is an intentional tort?
Miscounting gauze pads during a client’s surgery
Causing a burn when applying a wet dressing to a client’s extremity
Divulging private information about a client’s health status to the media
Failing to monitor a client’s blood pressure before administering an antihypertensive
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Divulging private information about a client’s health status to the media
Explanation:
An intentional tort in nursing refers to a deliberate act that violates a client’s rights and causes harm. These actions are done on purpose, even if the harm wasn’t intended. Intentional torts in healthcare commonly include assault, battery, false imprisonment, invasion of privacy, defamation, and breach of confidentiality.
In this scenario, divulging private information about a client’s health status to the media is a clear breach of confidentiality and invasion of privacy, making it an intentional tort. Nurses are ethically and legally bound to protect their clients’ private health information under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Disclosing patient details to unauthorized parties—such as the media—without the client’s consent constitutes an intentional violation of that duty, potentially causing harm to the client’s reputation, emotional well-being, and trust in the healthcare system.
Let’s contrast this with the other options, which do not qualify as intentional torts:
- Miscounting gauze pads during a client’s surgery is a negligent act, not intentional. It may be malpractice if it causes harm, but it lacks the element of intent.
- Causing a burn when applying a wet dressing may also represent negligence or malpractice, especially if the nurse failed to check water temperature, but again, the harm was unintentional.
- Failing to monitor a client’s blood pressure before giving an antihypertensive is another example of negligence, not an intentional tort. It may lead to patient harm, but it results from a lapse in appropriate care, not deliberate action.
In summary, intentional torts require purposeful behavior that infringes on a client’s rights. Disclosing private health information without consent is intentional, violates HIPAA, and qualifies as a tortious act in nursing.